Carrot and Date Cake Recipe
Indulge in a heavenly twist on the classic carrot cake, where the irresistible sweetness of sticky dates intertwines with a tantalisingly salty-sweet icing, elevating this beloved dessert to new heights of culinary bliss.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 200 g Stoned Dates
- 200 g Softened Butter
- 4 Eggs
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 300 g Self-Raising Flour
- 1½ tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
- 200 g Light brown Sugar
- 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 300 g Carrots (washed and grated) (about 3 large carrots or 5 medium)
- 75 g Pecans (roughly chopped and extra for the topping)
Cream Cheese Icing
- 100 g Soft Cheese
- 1 tbsp Peanut Butter (or tahini)
- 200 g Butter (softened)
- 600 g Icing Sugar
- 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Put the dates in a bowl and cover with 200ml of boiling water. Leave to soak for 30 minutes.
- Grease and line the bases of two sandwich tins (20cm). Heat the oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4/350f.
- Tip the dates and the liquid it is in, in a food processor, then blitz to a puree.
- In a bowl or mixer add the pureed dates, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, bicarb, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and blend to a smooth cake batter. Fold in the carrots and chopped pecans.
- Divide equally into the tins and level off with a spatula or back end of a tablespoon. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes until golden brown. Check by inserting a skewer or long sharp knife in the middle, if it comes out clean it's done.
Cream Cheese Icing
- Beat the cream cheese and peanut butter together until smooth. Add the butter, icing sugar, maple syrup and vanilla extract and beat or whisk again until smooth and fluffy.
Assemble
- Place one of the cake on the stand or plate and spoon a good amount of icing on top. Spread to the edges then top with the other cake. Pile the rest of the icing on top and spread over the top and down the sides until completely covered.
- Sprinkle the pecans in a ring on top of the cake.
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Will keep in a cool place for 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 755kcalCarbohydrates: 103gProtein: 7gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 428mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 4gSugar: 79gVitamin A: 5207IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg
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